Fond du Lac Diabetes Program

Diabetes Support Group Update—
The Healthy Changes Program

19 people attended The Healthy Changes Diabetes Support Group Training that was held at the FDL Tribal Center on September 8th and 9th. The attendees represented 4 areas of Minnesota including Minneapolis, St. Croix, Mille Lacs, and Fond du Lac. This training was led by Bob Comer and Carolyn Holmes from Albuquerque, NM who represent NICOA (National Indian Council on Aging).

The Healthy Changes Program was developed in Portland as both an educational and support program designed to assist older adults in the day to day self-management of diabetes by focusing on diet and physical activity issues.

The program offers weekly group meetings in community settings.

During meetings participants learn about diet and physical activity as they relate to diabetes. Participants have an opportunity to discuss their personal goals and achievement of those goals. They receive problem solving help and support from other group attendees. They also learn about community resources available to them.

Groups led by community members were found to be more successful than those led by health professionals. We will begin working with the interested community members from Fond du Lac that attended the training to start the program at FDL. We are hoping to form a successful support group for you.

Watch for further details.

The Diabetes Team Welcomes Julie Howard

Fond du Lac Human Services welcomes Julie Howard to the Diabetes Team and Min No Aya Win Clinic. Julie is a Behavioral Health Specialist who will be working on the Diabetes Prevention Project. She will be assisting clients with pre-diabetes in their efforts to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes. The prevention project will be starting this fall.

Julie is based at the Min No Aya Win medical clinic and she will also be assisting clinic clients to better coordinate their care. She will help provide the link between physical/medical care and the emotional/behavioral work that makes it happen.

Julie holds a Master of Science in Social Work, from the University of Tennessee and has 13 years of experience working in the behavioral health field.

Julie and her husband Lance come to us from Memphis, Tennessee. They are preparing for their first Minnesota winter and invite any and all winter weather survival tips. They love to fish and are excited about living in the land of 10,000 lakes.